Chandigarh/New Delhi: Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday took charge as Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Affairs in the new Congress government in Punjab.
He said he will continue to be part of the very popular `The Kapil Sharma Show`.
Sidhu, elected from Amritsar East Assembly seat, said he will try to balance his television engagements with his work as a minister.
"If people had objections to my television assignments, they would not have elected me with nearly 43,000 vote margin. I will work (as a minister) till 3 pm and then take a flight to Mumbai. I will shoot (for the show) till 3 am and be back early morning," Sidhu told the media after assuming office.
The remark evoked mix reactions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp with leader and actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha showing support, while his colleague Babul Supriyo, who is a Bollywood singer, condemning Sidhu.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Sinha said, "If the government permits, and if he has enough free time to spare then I don`t see any harm. When I was a Cabinet minister, under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, I did a movie named `Aan-men at work`. I did the movie after I got permission from Vajpayee. Hence, it is up to the Punjab government."
"I am an entertainer myself, hence I won`t be hypocritical. I too sometimes sing, but I do for a cause, one can do as long as it doesn`t intervene in you work as a minister. Being a minister, you are a government employee and cannot take any money outside your salary. Sidhu is an intelligent man. He knows his duties and responsibilities. We would like to see how he can manage to do both work simultaneously," Supriyo told ANI.
Sidhu, meanwhile, said he was ready for the challenges posed by his new ministerial assignment and the public expectations from him.
(With Agency inputs)
